The Billboard 1925-01-03: Vol 37 Iss 1 (1925-01-03)

erces , ' eva gves @ Te 4 he) CA e JANUARY 3, 1925 ZIEGFELD-LESSING TROUBLE AVERTED ‘Follies’ Producer and Scenic Artists’ Association Settle Differences Amicably---No Details Given Out York, Dec. 27.—The threatened war between Florenz Ziegfeld and the Seer Artists’ Association which rumbled Monday when the Follies’ producer | Charles E. Lessing, president of the tion, Into the Criminal Court was settled late this afternoon, The i learned, Ziegtelad’s attorney charged Lessing with coercion and conspiracy, in that i «eine had @Gemanded payment of three hills which members of his association ad iimed. The attorney averred that } was overriding his authority as president of a labor union in making such demands, ' Nathan Burkan, Ziegfeld’s lawyer, presented a letter to the District Attorneys, he declared was sent by Lessing to intimidate his client, Lessing countered by explaining that We had invited a of all concerned in his letter to Zieefeld if there was any doubt as to the fairness of the claims. The case was taken under advisement by the District Attorney “As soon as several artists who are embers of the Scenic Association heard of the action taken against Lessing they ceased work on scenes that were under way for Ziegfeld, The next move*in the ticklish situation was a closeted conference between Zicefeld and Lessing, where the original claims of Reeinald Marsh for $900, Rothe and Teichner for $600 and John Wagner for $300 were discussed. These artists declare that they submitted drawings and sketches to Ziegfeld for his three shows, the Follies, Kid Boo's and Annie Dear, for which they were not mpensed wmnference The final and last episode of the nearlegal battle came out today when ZiegfFld announced that he would not proceed any further against the Scenic Artists’ Assoclation, while Lessing would only say “rverything has been amicably settled between Mr. Ziegfeld and myself.” The Scenic Artists’ Association is composed of every theatrical scene painter in Greater New York. Lessing explained that in the past the members have been in the custom to some extent of submitting @rawings and sketches of proposed scenery that were not Legge! oa? Lessing also gave oft that his association had agreed upon a system that was followed very closely mow where all artists are to list their outstanding bids and that no sketches and drawings wrre to be submitted without cost. This, the president of the associatfn asserted, was really what brought about the entire misunderstanding. : Actors’ Association Reported Reducing Staff London, Dec, 28, (Special Cable to The Rillboerd) —It ts learned that the Actors’ \ssoclation has been obliged to reduce ts staff drastically owing to Its sérious finar 1 straits After borrowing from \ 1s Industrial unions its resources are now practically exhausted and its future ‘s problematical Already the provincial organization has been suspended and it is rumored that all the staff except. Sir Alfred Lueg are under notice. It is the general opinion that Luee’s departure would facilitate reorganization before it is too late. Again, Stress Gaimes, the present accountant, could, it is said, reorganize the union and retain the confidence of stars and influential artists who seceded owing to Luge. Matters are especially serious as few renewals of membership. are expected because of lack of confidence thruout profession. The writer (Cockaigne) radicts the suerestion that the stage War is ended Actually, the managers seem to be winnine, owing to the ineffectuality of the Guild and the exhaustion of the Actors’ Association, Mrs. Arliss, Santa Claus New York, Dec. 27.—Mrs. George Arh wife of the actor who is playing n Old Enalish, enacted Santa Claus to distribute horses, dogs and -cats for the Hun ine Society of this city yesterday a eTT Kris Kringle costume of long, red-flannel eat trimmed with fluffy white cotton, rubber boots, bewhiskered mask and red bonnet, and made a hit with the children, who were given the cats and dogs The Boys’ Rand of the Hebrew Orphan Asylum furnished the music for the occasion Old English Theater for Highland Park ,Hicago, Dee, 27.—The contract_ has veen let for a 900-seat theater in Highane Park, to be known as the Peart. The design is Old English and strikingly ‘ifferent from prevailing playhouse styles. The Billboard Protest Against Girl Playing Hamlet Role Paris, Dec. 28.—A protest has gone up here against a film production in which the role of Hamlet is played by a gfrl, M. Emile Desvaux. The city counselor has attacked the picture and it is being held up following a decision by city authorities. In the film, according to Desvaux, Hamlet becomes a daughter whom the mother, Gertrude, decides to dress as a man under pretext of saving the crown. The city counselor wants the film stopped on the ground that it distorts the historical interest of the play and is an outrage on Shakespeare. on. She was attired in the usual, Overkind Reception Accorded Dean's Production of “Midsummer Night’s Dream” at Drury Lane Theater, London ‘ London, Dec. 28 (Special Cable to The Billboard).—Basil Dean's heterogeneous, overloaded production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Drury Lane Theater was generously received last night. George Harris’ scenery and costumes are extraordinarily and indiscriminately mixed, but most of the costumes are beautiful, some magnificent. Far too much Mendelssohn, none too well handled, much overweighting the show, helped Dean's innate ability to destroy the natural poetry, ease and grace of Shakespeare’s fairy play. The acting was excellent with few exceptions, but the exceptions are important, as instance the rercarkably @ull Bottom of Wilfrid We'’vor and the melon choly Titania ef Cuwen Freanecon Da Frank Cellier ga an especially performance of Quin »—a pe mar that wor'd have dtighted Sb :ke: meare. H. 0. Nivholon was @-lehti*ul as the a] starveling. ¢ 4 Clark, wore excellent in Unir r spective roles, and Robert Harr's nade a distinct Impression as Ob +on. spcakine the lovely vers e‘oquentivy, with g-acious gesture and great charm. The four lovers were good, blithe and free, especialIv Leon (nartermaine and Edith Evans, whose pieying and speaking was a pure deNght. Rut the quarre) s‘ne was stupid'y produced and the lov rs’ parts ent to bits for the sake of bering ballets and ton-hearvv production Altogether Dean's production fs an unimaginative, solid rendering ef an effervescent, simple comedy which has been much better done by other recent producers “with only a tithe of Dean's resources. TD. Haw Petrie as Puck earned a tremendous ovation despite repulsive costumes and absurd entrances by way of a demon t-ap. His performance puts him in the forefront of Enclish grotesque actors, but, like author and players, he had to make good d-spite. not pecause of. the producer. The play was arcorded an undeservedly kind reception, but it is doubtful if it will be a financial success, “Alf's Button” Gets a Splendid Sendoff London, Dec. 28 (Special Cable to The Biliboard).—W. A. Darlineton’s adaptation of his novel Alf’s Button, produced at the Prince's Theater on Boxing Night, received a splendid sendoff and probably will be an attraction thru the holidays and long after. Tubby Fadlin has a fine part as a typical Tommy Atkins bewtldered by the magical properties of a tunic button made of material from Aladdin's lamp. Following a successful provincial run the piece was revised for London production and goes with a swing thruout. May Robson Plays to Packed El Paso Houses Fl Paso, Tex., Dec. 27.—May Robson played to three packed -houses in the ‘exas Grand Theater hece the first three days of last week in her own play. Something Tells Me. She left Sunday for Tucson, Ariz., to spend Christmas as a guest of Harold Bell Wright, the novelist. on his ranch near Tucson. The settlement of the trouble with the stagehands assures a good theatrical season for El Paso. Jackson Theater Opens New York, Dec. 28.—The Jackson Theater, an $800,000 structure, modern and fireproof in every respect, in Jackson Heights, Long Island, was opened to the public last week, The opening was attended by prominent pefsons of the community, including Queensboro President Maurice M. Connolly. The new theater, to be devoted to pictures, seats 1.400 and is under the management of William Fait, formerly manager of the Eastman Theater, Rochester. . Maude for Atlantic City Atlantic City, Dec. 27.—Cyril Maude, noted English comedian, will appear here beginning January 5 in Aren’t We All? as part of his farewell tour prior to his complete retirement from the stage. NEW BONSTELLE PLAYHOUSE READY Detroit's Year Round Theater Opens New Year's Night With “The Best People’’---Fred Snow Manager Detroit, Dec. 27.—Jessie Bonstelle announces the opening of her new Playhouse New Year's night. The new yearround Playhouse was remodeled from the old Temple Beth El into a beautiful and comfortable theater under the supervision of C. Howard Crane, Detroit architect. The opening piece will be The Best People, with Gilda Leary, an actress little Known in Detroit, in the leading ro!.. Mannart Kippen has been engaged to p! opposite Miss Leary. Mr. Kippen #)peared here recently with Florence R tenhouse in The Shame Woman, The B: People, which has just closed a successful season in New York, will open in Boston at practically the same time that Miss Bonstelle produces the play in Detroit. It was only after Miss Bonstelk selected her Detroit company that the Frohman offices consented to the release. and then they refused to release the play on the usual royalty basis, but insisted on playing’ it on the usual terms of all visiting productions. There will be a special price for the opening, and Miss Bonstelle promises a souvenir of a permanent and unique type. It is said that this is the second time in the history of the opening of a theater in the United States that this souvenir hs been uscd. The policy of the new Pavhouse calls for two-week runs of all productions and longer if practical A vege number of plays will be tried out far New York m#nagers or actors, and sometimes players of distinction will be visitors, but never “visiting stars”. Subscriptions have been sold after the manner of the Theater Guiid in New York, and after the first play the openings will be Monday evenings, with matinees Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. In the case of the first five performances tickegg will not be sold to the regular subscribers in .order that the subscriptions may start) Monday evening. Fred Snow. who has been treasurer of the Garritk Theater here for a number of years, has been appointed manager of the new Playhouse. Richard Lawrenée, manager of the Garrick Theater, will be an advisory associate of Miss LBonstelle. Mr. Charles Ringling and Wife Go to Cuba Sarasota. Fla. Dec. 28.—Mr. and Mrs. Charles Ringling left for Tampa this morning, where they will embark’ for Havana, Cuba. They expect to visit the tobacco country in the western part of the island and the caves near Watanzos and other points of interest within easy motoring distance, but most of their attention will be devoted to Havana and its New Year festivities. Accompanying them on the trip are Ed and Jimmie Rooney. They expect to be gone about 10 ‘days or two weeks. Stock Theater Planned by Organized Labor in Sacramento, California Sacramento, Calif., Dec. 27.—Negotiations are under way for the construction of a theater in the business section of the city by local organized-labor. Papers are now being drawn up to incorporate a holding company with a capital stock of $150,000. The theater would be used for the presentation of stock perform Hughes Theater Sold New York, Dec. 27.—The Hughes Theater, a motion picture house occupying a large site at the southwest corner of A86th street and Hughes avenue, the Bronx, was sold yesterday by the I_ R. B. fealty Company, Inc., of which Isador Benenson is president, to Louis I. and Bernard Shapiro. The property was held at $150,000. The theater is a one-story structure with a seating capacity of 1,200. It covers a plot of 87.6x100. Heifetz’s Home Robbed New York, Dec. 28.—Four summer homes at Narragansett Pier, Rhode Island. one of them the home of Jascha Heifetz, yiolinist, were ransacked Saturday nighf by thieves, who carried away loot valued at $100,000. The plunder consisted chiefly of valuable paintings. silverware, antiques and jewelry. At Heifetz’s home the wine cellar was broken into and @ secret safe kept there taken away. Beverly Players in “Candida” New York, Dec. 27.—A_ performance of George Bernard Shaw's Candida was shown in the auditorium of the Fourth Unitarian Church in Brooklyn last night by the Beverly Players. The church was filled to overflowing and the large audience gave the play a big hand. HELEN A. STANILAND Miss Staniland, a former professional, has for six years been with the O. H. Johnstone Theatrical Agency. She is\a highly capable business woman, and has numerous friends in theatrical circles. The Alviene University School of Theater Aris New York, Dec. 27.—The ever-growing popularity of the American stage, the gradual perfection of the arts, the steadily increasing ability of the American actor and actress, ‘all are in no small degree to be attributed to the efficiency of some of America’s leading schools of the drama. opera and the dance.. One of these progressive and efficient schools is the Alviene University School of Theater Arts, 43 West 72d street, of which Professor Claude M. Alviene is the principal. This venerable institution, like few others in America, is one of the ever-vigilant, progressive institutions whose aim and purpose is the thoro, scientific, methodical training of young promising Americans for a successful career, along the higher arts of the drama, the opera and the dance. Its Board of Advisers and Honorary Directors includes such men as Alan Dale, dean of dramatic critics ; Wm. A. Brady, Henry Miller, Sir John MartinHarvey, J. J. Shubert, Marguerite Clark, the screen star, Rose Coghlan and others. Many of the leading celebrities of local fame owe their success to this institution and the unceasing perseverance of Prof. Alviene and his wife. who just live for the love of the art and the prodigies they help to fame. Among these are Mary Pickford, Laurette Taylor, Dolly Sisters, Dorothy Jarden, Mary Nash, Taylor Holmes and Eleanor Painter. Then there are Fred and Adele Astair, Zita Johann, Wm. Morgan, Camelia Campbell, Harry Clarke, Anthony Knilling, Lillian Foster, Wanda Lyon, May Buckley, Evelyn Law, Lee Tracy and Muriel Stryker. , Many leading stars thruout the country and abroad at one time or another have received some of their training at the Alviene. The Grand Opera Department of the Alviene School is taken care of by Jules Schwarz in co-operation with his brother, the world famous baritone of the Chicago Grand Opera Company, with Mr. Gabor, of the Metropolitan, and Mr. Nadon, late with Bernardi, of Paris, an@ others cooperating. The stage directors are Roy Cochrane, Lawrence Marston and Fred Loomis. “Six-Cylinder Love”’ Gets Fair Reception London, Dec. 28 (Special Cable to The Billboard).—Sizx-Cylinder Love in opening at six o’clock nightly at the Garrick. Theater, thus avoiding interference with other performances, seems to have made a lucky choice, for it is unlikely to make a profit with an ordinary bill and ful theater rental to pay. The reception of the play was only fair, altho Bobbie Howes as Sterling caught the public fancy in no uncertain fashion, Howes receiving an ovation for his clever comedy work. Edna Best was her usual pleasant une distinguished self,. playing sincerely, but without flair. The play has a doubtful future here, Elizabeth Schirmer Ill leveland, Dec. 26.—Elizabeth Schirmer, Madonna in The Miracle, at the Auditorium, was taken home ill after the first act. She was enacting the part usually played by Lady Diana Manners. Physicians, who report her condition as not serious, have ordered her to remain in her apartment for a few days. Miss Schirmer was taking the Madonna role for the first time here. This is under the alternating system that relieves principals in the most strenuous parts evening following a matinee. LN